I have all these opinions bumping around my head, figured I get them out and hopefully help some people in their choice of books. If you have any questions as to where and how I get these books, please don't hesitate to ask.

federal

Laurie Burke’s family has been criminals because of alcohol and the Prohibition and because of that she resolves to find at least one honorable man to fill her life. Even though she tries to find an honest man, she is a criminal magnet. Her bad run with men seems to be over when she meets federal agent Samuel Brown, because a man of the law can’t be a criminal, right?

Daniel Shepherd moved from Seattle to his hometown to help run his grandfather’s drugstore and to run away from his past. He’s interested in Laurie, but unbeknownst to him, she believes he’s rum-running with her brother and isn’t interested in getting involved with another criminal. He’s trying to win her over but with missteps and misunderstandings running abound it’s hard to get her to like him.

With Laurie showing an interest in Samuel Brown, Daniel must try and show her that he might not be who she thinks he is and show her that he might be worth her attention. As they grow closer Laurie tries to hide her brother’s illegal smuggling and her father’s drunken ways, and Daniel’s past begins to close in on him. Neither feel worthy of love but maybe God has other plans.

Can Laurie finally find one honorable man or will she spend her life surrounded by criminals? Can Daniel show her that he’s not a rum-runner or will she always think the worst? How will Laurie react when she finds out about Daniel’s past? Is Samuel Brown who he says he is or is there a lot more about him then he appears? Can Laurie and Daniel’s budding relationship survive the prohibition or will it be crushed under the weight of the secrets they carry?
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Karen Barnett is a new author for me, but I must say that I’m glad I found her. I was first drawn to this book because of the cover and the era in which it was set. Once I found out what it was about I was all in and ready to read this book. My expectations when starting this book were pretty high and I so excited to see how this book turned out. This book not only met but exceeded my expectations and blew them out of the water.

This author’s true talent lies in her impeccable characters. All of her characters are fallible and misguided in some area and all, well most, are lovable and easy to relate to. I couldn’t believe how well each character was formed or how deep each characters feelings went. I found myself feeling along with the character and that is a rare thing for me. I loved absolutely every second of watching these characters try and get out of the mess they had gotten themselves into.

Her storyline is also incredible. It has just the right amount of suspense, romance, and secrets. I never expected to be ripped into the storyline so quickly or fully and I enjoyed it so much I actually finished this book in one night. I actually stayed up late trying to finish this one and see how it would end. It was a real joy to see the story progress with a wonderful pace, incredible characters, and a beautiful love story. I think this story is my favorite of the year so far.

Even the romance in this book is awesome. I got the perfect mixture of emotional connection as well as physical. Daniel is willing to do almost anything for Laurie and she can’t seem to stay out of trouble. I loved the whole set up an result and I loved to see their love in action throughout the book. Needless to say that I was impressed with the way this romance evolved and I don’t think I’ll forget it any time soon.

The topic is set in history, during the Prohibition era, but I think there’s a lesson in there for all of us. Not only does this book show that God is better than anyone or anything and is always willing to forgive, but I also think it shows that alcohol can be a dangerous thing to tangle with. I also think the author did an amazing job depicting so accurately what alcoholism is, how it starts, and how to cure it. Her colorful and accurate depiction of an alcoholic made this story come alive and held me until the end.

If I were this author, I would be so excited and proud of this book. This book not only is an amazing story and romance but it’s also and incredibly accurate depiction of alcoholism and I can’t imagine how many lives this might save or change. This book was so fantastic that this author and book just skyrocketed up to the top of my “favorites” list and aren’t coming down. This book comes very highly recommended.

Overall, absolutely amazing book. I loved it so much I have not complaints. This book perfect for those who want a romance set in the Prohibition era and want a but of suspense as well. I think this book is good for adults and possibly teens. I give this book a five out of five.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.*